This is an opinion article published by Adventist Review.
The internet has become a war zone. Digital innovations have revolutionized and transformed how we communicate with each other. Today digital communication is largely influenced by bots, and our social media interactions are increasingly informed by community-driven algorithms rather than by objective facts, truth, or ethical principles. While social media creates the illusion of personal connection, it often lacks the depth and quality of face-to-face communication—missing body language, physical presence, and the natural flow of in-person conversation. This has led to an increase of aggressiveness, outrage, disinformation, misinformation, and derogatory language that is divisive and disruptive to peaceful relationships. As Seventh-day Adventist Christians we must be mindful of how we engage in such digital conversations, ensuring that our communication reflects biblical values where we invite the presence of Christ into our digital spaces.1
The Challenge of a Post-Truth Era
In a time when “fake news,” “alternative facts,” and conspiracy theories are spreading rapidly, society has shifted away from objective truth and has fueled a culture in which personal belief and emotion often outweigh facts. For many, truth has morphed into subjective opinion and has degenerated into “truthiness,” a sweet-sounding word that refers to a seemingly truthful quality that one wishes to be true, not because of supporting evidence, but because of a feeling that it is true or a desire for it to be true.2 As Christ’s disciples we are therefore called to embrace an ethical approach to communication that is rooted in biblical wisdom. Luke 10:27 reminds us to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. This means cultivating a mindset of truth, knowledge, and understanding in all our interactions—online and offline. A thoughtful, ethical communication reflects God’s character and honors Him. As we navigate the digital age, here are a few principles that can help ensure that our digital communication reflects integrity, humility, and love, serving as a witness to God’s character in a world that desperately needs God’s qualities.3
Carefulness
In both the digital and analog worlds our communication must be guided by carefulness. Scripture repeatedly urges us to be careful in our speech (Matt. 5:37; James 5:12). We are to practice what God has told us to do (Deut. 12:32;
2 Tim. 3:10), because our credibility and the authority of our message is at stake. Jesus teaches that faithfulness in small things will enable faithfulness in greater matters (Luke 16:10). We all know stories in which hastiness or carelessness has led to disastrous results. Careful communicators do not distort truth but seek accuracy, ensuring they do not hastily reach conclusions based on limited knowledge.
The biblical virtue of carefulness is especially crucial in digital communication, where information can easily be decontextualized and recombined. Copying and pasting content into a new context can distort meaning and even lead to plagiarism. Additionally, we need to be mindful that once something is online, it remains accessible virtually indefinitely. This permanence also necessitates great caution in what we share, ensuring we do not communicate misleading, irresponsible, or hateful information. Scripture repeatedly admonishes us to be careful in observing God’s word (Deut. 4:6; 6:3; 28:58), and this principle applies to our digital interactions also. As Seventh-day Adventist Christians, intellectual carefulness reflects our respect for God, our Creator and Redeemer. Faith is never sloppy or hasty, but honors God through meticulous and responsible thinking, research, and communication.
Fair-Mindedness
Bias pervades large parts of our world, from news to social discourse. Few are willing to consider perspectives that challenge their own. The Berean believers, in contrast, were praised for their noble-mindedness, as they eagerly examined the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). God, who judges impartially (1 Peter 1:17), calls His followers to do the same.
Fair-minded individuals prioritize truth over personal biases. They seek to understand differing perspectives and acknowledge their own limitations. This does not mean abandoning convictions, but valuing truth above ego. Such fair-mindedness fosters better relationships and facilitates meaningful discussions. Fair-minded individuals are attentive listeners, which helps them build trust and engage in productive conversations.
In digital communication fair-mindedness is crucial. Instead of quickly reacting with emotional outbursts, we should first reflect and seek understanding. This requires time! Often inflammatory comments can be avoided when we allow time for a good night’s rest rather than venting our feelings immediately. Instead of silencing or ridiculing opposing views, we should ask informed, thoughtful questions. By avoiding inflammatory language and derogatory comments, we can restore civility in discussions.
Truthfulness
To be able to communicate in a Christlike manner, we need an unwavering commitment to truth that is communicated with great love. Truthfulness strengthens community, affirms shared values, and builds trust. In the Bible, truth is linked with faithfulness and reliability. Providing truthful information respects others and enables sound decision-making. Truth is essential for harmonious relationships. Deception and half-truths, on the other hand, breed mistrust and aggression.
Honest communication ensures that information is not misused or distorted. The well-being of societies and the church depends on truth for informed decision-making. Communal life would falter without it. Such truthfulness reflects God’s character. As followers of Christ, we seek to emulate His truthfulness, as commanded in the ninth commandment (Ex. 20:16). Digital communication, however, presents unique challenges to truthfulness. Words can be misinterpreted, and strong language can foster aggression, mistrust, and resentment. Upholding truth in digital spaces requires integrity and a commitment to honesty that is coupled with deep love in how we write and speak.
Humility
Humility is often misunderstood. Intellectually humble individuals recognize that they are not the measure of everything; that they are dependent on something beyond themselves. Therefore they submit their thoughts to God’s wisdom in obedience to His Word (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Cor. 10:5). They understand that truth is not self-made but divinely revealed.
Humble individuals prioritize truth over ego. They are open to learning and growth, making them pleasant to work with. Intellectual humility does not equate to a lack of conviction. Instead, it allows for deeper understanding and the ability to expand one’s knowledge. Arrogant individuals, by contrast, resist learning and remain stagnant. To grow in knowledge, humility is essential, because it is the foundation of all true learning, and this will reflect how we communicate with others or whether we take ourselves as the measure of everything else.
Civility and Decency
Digital communication is often marred by inflammatory language and derogatory messages. People swiftly dare to write things on the internet that they would never speak personally into the face of another person. Such verbal aggression fosters disrespect and division. Coupled with misinformation and half-truths, the negative effects multiply. In a context of antagonism we are called to respond with civility and a spirit of kindness, recognizing that uncivil discourse leads to chaos and rebellion, whereas respectful dialogue promotes understanding and shalom.
Civility means not forcing opinions or belittling dissenting voices or making fun of people who hold different opinions. Instead of spreading doubt, hate, or misinformation, we should focus on what is honorable, just, pure, and commendable (Phil. 4:8). Our words should uplift and build trust rather than sow doubts or tear others down. Cultivating positive, respectful communication honors God and fosters a more constructive public discourse.
Ellen White knew about the blessings of such civility and decency in our communication when she writes: “Often, as you seek to present the truth, opposition will be aroused; but if you seek to meet the opposition with argument, you will only multiply it, and this you cannot afford to do. Hold to the affirmative. Angels of God are watching you, and they understand how to impress those whose opposition you refuse to meet with arguments. Dwell not on the negative points of questions that arise, but gather to your minds affirmative truths, and fasten them there by much study, earnest prayer, and heart consecration.”4 Keep to the affirmative truths. Do not cherish controversy. Avoid bitter sarcasm. Share kindness instead, and focus on the good.
Responsibility
Freedom of speech is often cited in defense of promoting questionable content or to legitimize disrespect and even rudeness. But public and digital discourse carries responsibility. Words—spoken and written—have power, influencing perceptions and triggering reactions. Digital communication amplifies this effect, as messages can reach vast audiences instantly and travel the world in mere seconds.
Jesus acknowledges that not everything should be shared at once (John 16:12), and John recognizes that some information was best left unrecorded (John 21:25). We too must exercise prudence in sharing what we know. Responsible communication considers the impact of our words, and the potential of words harshly spoken. We need to be mindful of how partial information can influence the reactions of the recipient. Awareness of these risks is essential in ensuring ethical and responsible communication.
By embracing carefulness, fair-mindedness, truthfulness, humility, civility, and responsibility, we can engage in ethical communication that honors God and strengthens relationships in both analog and digital spaces. This will enable us not just to be against any negativity we might encounter on the internet, but to help us to focus on the good things we stand for and support so that we can communicate them clearly and convincingly.
Conclusion
As followers of Christ, we are invited to practice an ethic of communication that exhibits carefulness, fair-mindedness, accuracy, truthfulness, honesty, humility, civility, decency, and responsibility. These virtues will not only enhance our communication in the digital age but also positively impact the way we relate to each other on a daily basis. Honoring these principles of communication can help make our interaction with others on social media platforms an expression of our “reasonable service” to God that is not “conformed to this world but . . . transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:1, 2). Such a living worship of God is closely tied to the character of our minds and the truthfulness of our words. How we honor God in our interactions on social media and the internet demands that our minds be fully engaged and that our lives and words exhibit the virtues we have described above.5 When we practice those virtues of communication, our actions also will increasingly reflect God’s goodness and character.
How we think and speak influences how we behave. If you are careful in what you write and say about me, if you begin to treat my opinions in a fair-minded way, if you are honest in your dealings with me, if your demeanor reflects truthfulness and humbleness, if you are kind and responsible in how you interact with me, it is only natural that your actual behavior toward me will also grow increasingly gracious. This is how God deals with each of us.
Imagine if our homes and workplaces, our classrooms, our schools, our churches, our communities, and our social media platforms were filled with people of such a character and attitude. What a blessing that would be! Imagine how the relationships and the atmosphere within the church and the world at large would change for the better if we all practiced this kind of interaction with each other and how our mission and outreach would benefit from it. God would be delighted, people would be attracted, and each one of us would be greatly blessed!
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1 I have reflected on this in greater detail in the article “Ethics of Communications in the Digital Age,” Reflections: The BRI Newsletter 78, no. 2 (June 2022): 1-7, https://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/wp-
content/uploads/Reflections-78-April-June-2022.pdf.
2 See Merriam-Webster Online, s.v. “Truthiness,” https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/truthiness, accessed Apr. 3, 2025.
3 Here I follow closely several of the inspiring ideas of Philip E. Dow, Virtuous Minds: Intellectual Character Development (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 2013).
4 Ellen G. White, Evangelism (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1946), p. 302.
5 For more inspiring thoughts on how biblical virtues can enrich our lives, see Frank M. Hasel, Living for God: Reclaiming the Joy of Christian Virtue (Boise, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 2020).
